Protesters descend on Home Depot in Roseburg

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ROSEBURG, Ore. -- In a protest believed to be connected to the logging protest near Reedsport, patrol officers and detectives responded to the Home Depot in Roseburg after 40-50 protesters entered the business.

According to police, the group used the store's public address system, moved displays around and put up a banner that said "Dam the Home Depot, Save Chile's Rivers."

Several subjects were taken away from the property but no arrests were made.

Members of the groups Earth First! and Cascadia Rising Tide say they want to protect fish and wildlife habitat in native forests.

The timber industry is a major workforce and revenue resource for Douglas County.

Residents KPIC talked with said they can understand both sides of the situation but don't agree with how the protest was executed.

"Any time you have a radical protest that completely stops something, I don't think that's right," said Doug Pieschel, a Douglas County resident. "I think you need some kind of sharing, some kind of compromise."

"There are many ways to go about that besides walking in and stopping someone's job and way of making a living," said Bill Calvert, also of Douglas County. "Certainly it hurts us, every penny lost in wages is a penny you never make up."

This protest is part of a national campaign, including protests in Colorado, Kansas, California and Florida.

Earth First! activist Kim Marks said the Home Depot is trying to promote a "green" image while buying timber from companies that would destroy Chile's rivers and forests..

KPIC spoke with a Home Depot spokesperson, Kathryn Gallagher, who said Home Depot is not a party in this issue.

"The organizations involved in this situation are not directly involved in harvesting any of the wood we purchase," Gallagher said, "and the companies that we do purchase from are in full compliance with our strict wood purchasing policy."

Gallagher said Home Depot does not buy wood within 1,000 miles in the region.